This from Steve Redick:
5-23-82, Conrad Hilton Hotel, 720 S. Michigan Avenue:
This was quite the event. As I recall this was an arson fire set by a prostitute over a payment dispute. It could have been a disaster. Higgins was in the 1st Battalion and he always got the crazy incidents when he was working. You can hear Art Benker in the office, and also a brief appearance by “Brush Fire Bill” as the commissioner. I think I might have heard Bob Raicia (yes sir senator) in the mix as well….
#1 by Mike on September 22, 2017 - 11:47 AM
The Chaplin respondes on all extra alarms so that is normal. Also a company officer can only request a still and box possibly a 2-11 but usually by then there is a chief officer there and the greater the alarm the higher the chain of command it goes.
#2 by John Antkowski on September 22, 2017 - 10:02 AM
Thanks BMurphy for your help. I found it interesting on some of the alarms requested. The main dispatcher was always second guessing the people who were there or still responding. A few times he reiterated that he already had 2 trucks on the still and that was it. The radio communication was also unreadable at times. I also found it funny that it took some Chief responding to upgrade it to a 2-11 alarm. Yes I agree high rise fires are tough to fight even with good modern fire detection systems. Thank you very much for your help. John
#3 by BMurphy on September 22, 2017 - 8:57 AM
Here’s a link to a Trib report about the fire. FYI the incident eventually helped create better hotel fire safety standards for the Hilton chain and others.
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1982/05/24/page/17/article/hilton-blaze-kills-4
#4 by John Antkowski on September 22, 2017 - 7:41 AM
I enjoyed the radio transmissions. I’m curious we’re there any fatalities. I heard that the fire department chaplain was there and at one time people were hanging out some windows. And I also heard that the mayor was on her way. Any insight would be nice. Thanks John